Hello Members & Friends of Head of Christiana!

The beginning of the new year is an appropriate time to reflect upon the past year and set
intentions for the year to come. A good practice for this kind of reflection is one from the
Catholic tradition called, “Examen”. This practice was devolved by Catholic Theologian, St.
Ignatius of Loyola in the 1500s. Originally designed to be a daily practice, it is adapted here
for reflecting upon the past year – reviewing the past year’s events, confessing one’s sins,
and seeing God’s presence and action throughout the course of the year. At the beginning of
this new year, you are invited to participate in this practice of Examen. The format of this
exercise is from the Soundings blog by Douglas B. Skinner.

1. Gratitude – Begin by recalling God’s promises, presence and provision for you over the past
year. Tell God “thank-you” for his blessings and presence in your life.
2. Petition – Ask God to open your eyes to be able to see more clearly who you really are.
Where are you actively cooperating with God? Where are you resisting God? What it is that God
is doing in you and through you and with you? Ask God to become increasingly receptive to the
hard and sometimes painful work of transformation into the image of God’s Son, Jesus Christ,
your Lord and Savior.
3. Review your life over the past year, being guided by the Holy Spirit – This is a simple process
of going back through the past year. What are the important events that happened? Where did
you see God in those moments, events, and activities?
4. Forgiveness – Where have you not kept faith with God, yourself and others? Repent,
confess, and receive the forgiveness that the Gospel offers. This is not about shame and guilt,
but about grace and growth.
5. Renewal – Ask God to be your companion and guide in the coming year. Ask God to help you
remain aware of God’s presence with you. Ask to be responsive to where God is taking you –
what God is doing in, through and with you in the new year.
Take some time to prayerfully go through this Examen practice at the start of this year. Use the
accompanying worksheet on the next page to complete your Examen practice.
For more on this practice, visit: A New Year’s Examen | *SOUNDINGS (wordpress.com).
May God richly bless you in the new year! May God richly bless you in the New Year!